Trial of strength at the cellular level: Cells are in constant competition with each other and so eliminate diseased or unwanted cells. Cell competition is therefore a central principle for maintaining the health of tissues and organs. Researchers have investigated the success factors of superior cells and discovered a previously...
Good fences make good neighbors (with carnivores)
A new study has found that fortified enclosures also benefit nearby livestock keepers by preventing carnivore attacks.
Iguanas floated one-fifth of the way around the world to colonize Fiji
The only iguanas outside the Americas, Fiji iguanas are an enigma. A new genetic analysis shows that they are most closely related to the North American desert iguana, having separated about 34 million years ago, around the same time that the islands emerged from the sea. This suggests that the...
Slow, silent ‘scream’ of epithelial cells detected for first time
It has long been thought that only nerve and heart cells use electric impulses to communicate, while epithelial cells -- which compose the linings of our skin, organs and body cavities -- are mute, serving mostly as protective barriers that can absorb and secrete various substances. But researchers have now...
Study: ‘Sustainable Intensification’ on the Farm Reduces Soil Nitrate Losses, Maintains Crop Yields
A nine-year study comparing a typical two-year corn and soybean rotation with a more intensive three-year rotation involving corn, cereal rye, soybean and winter wheat found that the three-year system can dramatically reduce nitrogen — an important crop nutrient — in farm runoff without compromising yield.
Swirling Skies and Melting Icebergs
The South Sandwich Islands are a remote group of eleven small volcanic peaks arranged in an arc in the southern Atlantic Ocean.
Social Media Can Help Track Species as Climate Changes
Social media can help scientists track animal species as they relocate in response to climate change, new research shows.
AI Reveals Insights into the Flow of Antarctic Ice
As the planet warms, Antarctica’s ice sheet is melting and contributing to sea-level rise around the globe.
Cooking Emissions Rival Fossil Fuels as an Ozone Pollution Source in Los Angeles
As the adoption of cleaner-burning engines and electric vehicles drives fossil fuel emissions lower, scientists have discovered that a surprising pollution source is playing a significant role in cooking up ozone in the air over Los Angeles.
Stanford Researchers Reimagine the Future of Food
A bite of food is about more than calories. Food production involves energy, water, and other resources and is shaped by economics, policies, and international relations.